Article: Secret to Success? Nolasco Staying Inside

[Parker Hageman]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php/2522-Secret-to-Success-Nolasco-Staying-Inside

[Parker Hageman]

So is what you are saying......... is that Nolasco is a new pitcher and has improved to "league average", and that that is success?

 

Nope, but signing a $49 million dollar contract is success.

 

Also, so is hanging out with Lil' Jon.

 

http://worldredeye.com/wp-content/uploads/massupload/8660861-Ricky-Nolasco-&-Lil-Jon1.jpg

[Marta Shearing]

Maybe Nolasco can teach Rick Anderson a thing or two. Baker, Slowey, Blackburn literally seemed scared to pitch inside. I honestly think they were mortified the hitter would stare them down or, gulp, CHARGE THE MOUND!

[Riverbrian]

In my Opinion... Twins Pitchers could throw inside a lot more.

 

Throwing inside takes confidence and toughness.

 

This speaks well of Nolasco.

 

Bringing in Nolasco is a solid step in the right direction.

[big dog]

I agree with both above commenters- the Twins have too many pitchers who nibble outside and don't keep the batter honest. Move their eyes, move their feet a little. Hopefully his approach rubs off on more of our starters. Good article!

[BigTrane]

No Nibblin' Nolasco?

I like this guy already.

 

Bert will love him.

[Marta Shearing]

In my Opinion... Twins Pitchers could throw inside a lot more.

 

Throwing inside takes confidence and toughness.

 

This speaks well of Nolasco.

 

Bringing in Nolasco is a solid step in the right direction.

Anderson has always seemed incapable of getting through to his pitchers the importance of pitching inside. He has called them out in the media a couple times. They dont seem to get the message.

 

The frustrating thing is its not even an intimidation thing. Its just to keep hitters off balance. Make them move their feet. Not allowing hitters to get comfortable. Such a simple concept.

[B Richard]

Thanks Parker, I always look forward to hearing from an analytic perspective. I was messing around with Nolasco's Pitch f/x data and found something interesting. Using the time period you do (comparing 2011-July 2012, and after the switch, July 2012-Today), I looked at swinging strike % by pitch, a significant indicator of success.

 

By far, Nolasco's pitch that benefited the most from the change is his splitter. Hitters often confuse splitters with fastballs, which is to say that the success of a pitcher's splitter relies on his ability to effectively use/locate his fastball. Here are the numbers:

 

Fastball: Swinging Strike % before change- 10.46%.....After- 11.24%

Frequency Used before change- 31.64%.....After- 22.88%

 

Splitter: Swinging Strike % before change- 26.32%.....After- 34.82%

Frequency Used before change- 11.85%.....After- 12.40%

 

Nolasco still throws his splitter with roughly the same frequency, but its effectiveness has spiked. I believe, as you pointed out, that Nolasco has benefited from his shift and improved his control. He doesn't need to rely on his fastball nearly as much, but hitters seem to respect it more, frequently confusing splitters for fastballs. In my opinion, Nolasco has done a better job locating and using his fastball (inside) and hitters have had to respect it. As a result, his splitter has spiked in efficiency. This was my personal take on it, let me know what you think. Thanks again Parker

 

(all data comes from Brooks Baseball)

[Parker Hageman]

Good stuff, B Richard.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Great pitch data. You hear about hitters working the count but almost never about pitchers who work the count, so very refreshing to have this guy (Nolasco) around, and also he seems to approach it as a nine inning game -- "I'm gonna face these hitters three times tonight" instead of the usual what we're used to, "oh crap I'm facing this guy for the third time tonight?"

 

Let's get it started!

[ashbury]

instead of the usual what we're used to, "oh crap I'm facing this guy for the third time tonight?"

 

Or the all-too-often, "well, at least I won't have to face any of those guys a third time tonight."